System in place to help on the WASL

Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe and Rep. Dave Quall

Thousands of Washington families are now learning how their 10th-graders fared on the Washington Assessment of Student Learning. It is an exciting and, understandably, anxious time for families, who all want their children to achieve academic success.

Many students will have met the standard in all three subjects (mathematics, reading and writing), which earns them their Certificate of Academic Achievement. We congratulate you and encourage you to continue working hard to meet the remaining state graduation requirements.

Other students will need more time and extra help to pass all three sections of the WASL. To those students, we say: We are committed to getting you the resources you need to succeed. You will have many opportunities to demonstrate your skills and knowledge.

It’s no longer acceptable to allow any Washington students to drift through the K-12 experience without gaining the math and language proficiency they’ll need to find rewarding, well-paying jobs. We have decided to expect more from our future physicians, writers, nurses, engineers, mechanics, artists and teachers.

Some students will need extra instruction. Others have a firm grasp on the subject matter but don’t do well on traditional tests. Still others simply didn’t sleep well the night before testing, or were distracted and need another chance to demonstrate their knowledge.

Whatever the situation, a system is in place to help. It’s important that families in every community understand how to access that system. Schools will have more details on the resources available to students, which include:

• $28.5 million statewide for extra learning opportunities such as summer school and before- and after-school programs.
• Up to four free WASL retakes.
• Alternative assessments for students who need other methods to demonstrate their skills and knowledge.

The 2006 Legislature also commissioned a thorough study of the characteristics of students who do not pass one or more sections of the WASL, so that we can remove potential barriers to academic success.

Finally, a world-class education system must include teachers, principals and superintendents who are well-prepared and appropriately compensated for the tremendous work they do each day in the classroom. Washington Learns, Gov. Christine Gregoire’s citizen commission on education, will submit recommendations to the 2007 Legislature on school funding issues, including teacher compensation.

Just as families must understand how to access resources to help their students, it’s also critical they’re clear on the WASL’s purpose. This is not just another state-mandated hoop for students to jump through on the way to earning their diploma. The test is designed to make sure students — whether they live in Seattle, Yakima, Vancouver or within any other of our state’s 296 school districts — are well-prepared for whatever post-high school path they choose. As the most trade-dependent state in the nation, our graduates are competing for jobs with the best and brightest not just in California and Oregon, but in South Korea, China, India and other emerging powers around the globe.

Change is never easy, and this year’s 10th-graders are pioneers in this new approach to education. While we still have more work to do — particularly in math — to help every student succeed, the Class of 2008 can be proud to be part of a pivotal moment in Washington’s history. No longer will we allow students to fall prey to a mediocre education. We want the best for tomorrow’s leaders.

Editor’s note: Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, D-Bothell, is chairwoman of the Senate Early Learning, K-12 & Higher Education Committee. Rep. Dave Quall, D-Mount Vernon, is chairman of the House Education Committee.

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